Early life and career beginnings
Beyonce Knowles was born in Houston, Texas on 3 September 1981. She is the daughter of Mathew Knowles, a professional record manager, and Tina Knowles a costume designer and hair stylist. Her father is African American while her Her mother is a Louisiana Creole (has African, French, Native American, and Irish ancestry). In addition, Beyonce has a younger sister called Solange Knowles who is also a singer, songwriter and actress.
Beyonce went to the St. Mary's Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Texas, in the Texas Hill Country, where she was enrolled in dance classes, including ballet and jazz. Her talent in singing was discovered when her dance instructor began humming a song and she finished it, hitting the high-pitched notes. Knowles' interest in music and performing began after participating in a school talent show. She sang John Lennon's "Imagine" and won the competition. At age seven, she started gaining attention from the press, having been mentioned in the Houston Chronicle as a nominee for the local performing arts award The Sammy. In the fall of 1990, Knowles enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a music magnet school in Houston, where she would perform on-stage with the school's choir. She also attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and later went to Alief Elsik High School, located in the Houston suburban munincipality, Alief. Knowles was a member of the choir at St. John's United Methodist Church for two years.
Beyonce was first introduced properly to the world when she teamed up with band member Kelly Rowland and to others and formed an all female singing group in which she was the lead vocalist. After a couple years, she later persued a solo career, becoming one of music's top selling sold-out tours, most succesfull artist and slew of awards.
Beyonce went to the St. Mary's Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Texas, in the Texas Hill Country, where she was enrolled in dance classes, including ballet and jazz. Her talent in singing was discovered when her dance instructor began humming a song and she finished it, hitting the high-pitched notes. Knowles' interest in music and performing began after participating in a school talent show. She sang John Lennon's "Imagine" and won the competition. At age seven, she started gaining attention from the press, having been mentioned in the Houston Chronicle as a nominee for the local performing arts award The Sammy. In the fall of 1990, Knowles enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a music magnet school in Houston, where she would perform on-stage with the school's choir. She also attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and later went to Alief Elsik High School, located in the Houston suburban munincipality, Alief. Knowles was a member of the choir at St. John's United Methodist Church for two years.
Beyonce was first introduced properly to the world when she teamed up with band member Kelly Rowland and to others and formed an all female singing group in which she was the lead vocalist. After a couple years, she later persued a solo career, becoming one of music's top selling sold-out tours, most succesfull artist and slew of awards.
Solo Albums and success
Dangerously in Love
Dangerously in Love is the debut solo album by Beyonce which was released on June 22, 2003 by Columbia Records, selling 317,000 in the first week. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 to 2003 at several studios, during the hiatus of her then-group Destiny Child's. Dangerously in Love was the ultimate highlight of her career, causing her to become a viable solo artist, as well as one of the most marketable singers in the recording industry. It became a worldwide commercial success, earning multi-platinum certification in the US, UK and Australia. Nevertheless, The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart as well as earning 5 Grammy awards.
B'day
B'Day is the second album by Beyonce Knowles which was released on September 4, 2006 by Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Music and Sony Urban Music. According to most reasonable criteria, This album y is a success, outpacing her solo debut Dangerously in Love. Here, Beyoncé delivers precisely what many listeners have always wanted from her: a short, tight, and energetic set that's heavy on upbeat numbers and funk affectations. This album has many well known songs such as "Deja Vu", "Upgrade You", "Irreplaceable", "Get me Bodied" and "Beautiful Liar". The album sold 541,000 units in its first week.
I am... Sasha fierce
I Am... Sasha Fierce is the third studio album by Beyoncé Knowles. Beginning on November 14, 2008, Columbia Records.
The two lead singles from I Am... Sasha Fierce, "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", both charted highly internationally. The album topped charts in over eight countries and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, with the latter becoming her fifth number one single on the Hot 100 chart. "Diva" and "Ego" were released as US-only singles, while "Halo" and "Sweet Dreams" were promoted internationally as the third and fourth singles respectively. "Broken-Hearted Girl" was released internationally as the fifth single, while "Video Phone" in November 2009. In addition, the album sold 482,000, beating Dangerously in love.
The two lead singles from I Am... Sasha Fierce, "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", both charted highly internationally. The album topped charts in over eight countries and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, with the latter becoming her fifth number one single on the Hot 100 chart. "Diva" and "Ego" were released as US-only singles, while "Halo" and "Sweet Dreams" were promoted internationally as the third and fourth singles respectively. "Broken-Hearted Girl" was released internationally as the fifth single, while "Video Phone" in November 2009. In addition, the album sold 482,000, beating Dangerously in love.
4
4 is the fourth studio album by Beyoncé Knowles, released through Columbia Records on June 24, 2011, selling 310,000 in its first week. 4 debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and topped the album charts in Brazil, France, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album's first two singles, "Run the World (Girls)" and "Best Thing I Never Had", both reached the top ten in several worldwide charts. "Countdown" and "Love on Top" were released as the third and fourth singles respectively. The latter peaked at number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for seven consecutive weeks. "End of Time" was released as a UK-only single in March 2012. Although this album did extremely well, it cannot be compared to the success of her 2nd and 3rd album .
Films
Not only is Beyonce a singer, she is also an actress. She has previously acted in very succesfull movies such as Dreamgirls (2006) and got nominated for 2 golden globe nominations.